Mexico Gallery

Cave of Crystals, Naica Mine, Mexico

^BCave of Crystals.^b Geologist in the Cave of Crystals (^ICueva de los Cristales^i) in Naica Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico. The crystals are the largest known in the world, and are formed of the selenite form of gypsum (calcium sulphate). They formed over millions of years in the mineral-rich geothermally heated water that filled the caves. The crystals were discovered after the water was pumped out of the mine. The Cave of Crystals is 290 metres deep, and was discovered in 2000. Above it, 120 metres deep, is the Cave of Swords (^ICueva^i ^Ide^i ^Ilas Espadas^i), which was discovered in 1912. The crystals in this cave are smaller as its water cooled more rapidly

© JAVIER TRUEBA/MSF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Mayan temple

Mayan temple at night. This is El Castillo (the castle), part of the Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico. This structure stands at 22 metres high. The construction of this pyramid was planned so that during the spring equinox (around 21 March), the setting sun casts a shadow of a snake writhing down the pyramid's steps. The Maya were Native American people, originating in Yucatan around 2600 BC. They developed astronomy, calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing from the ideas of earlier civilizations. Mayan civilization went into decline in AD 900 and came to a close in AD 1200

© TONY CRADDOCK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The Magicians Pyramid

The Magician's Pyramid, Uxmal, Yucatan State, Mexico Uxmal was occupied from 600 to 900 AD and was considered to be an important city in the Late Classic period. The Pyramid of the Magician stand 39 metres tall and is built on an oval base. The outer temple walls are built over four previous temples, they form part of a complex of religious and ethnic buildings created by the Maya civilization. Uxmal is considered one of the finest examples of Puuc architectural style, made up of stone friezes in geometric patterns and the face of Chac the Rain God

© Paul Harris/John Warburton-Lee Photography Ltd